CHAPTER 87: DIFFERENT KIND OF FEELING

"Please make yourself comfortable here, Alpha Lucien. The Alpha King is currently in an important meeting," the valet informed respectfully. "In the meantime, may I offer you some coffee or any other refreshment?"

"No, thank you," Lucien replied calmly, settling onto one of the sofa chairs, deliberately leaving the main seat unoccupied out of respect for the Alpha King. "Just some plain water would be appreciated."

"Of course," the valet responded with a courteous nod and signaled to the servant standing behind him to bring water.

Moments later, both the valet and attendant quietly withdrew, leaving Lucien and Caleb alone in the elegant receiving chamber.

Several minutes passed in silence, filled only with the distant echo of footsteps and the faint ticking of the ornate wall clock, until finally, the tall double doors opened and Alpha King Francis entered the room.

Both Lucien and Caleb rose from their seats and offered a respectful bow as the Alpha King entered.

"Please, be seated," Francis gestured, settling into his own chair. Once they had taken their seats again, he dismissed the valet with a nod while allowing his bodyguard to remain posted quietly near the door.

"How was the journey?" Francis asked, lifting a glass of water and taking a small sip.

"It was smooth, Your Majesty," Lucien replied politely, his hands clasped neatly on his lap. "Is everything alright? You sounded concerned during our call. I must also apologize for the delay in my arrival."

The King waved a hand dismissively. "No need to apologize," he said, leaning forward to place the glass gently on the table.

"I summoned you because a matter of growing concern has come to light," Francis continued, his tone shifting to a serious one. "There are whispers, rumors of an enigma, forming a pack of his own. No one knows the exact location yet, but my most trusted spies have confirmed the talk among the outer villages."

He paused for a moment before locking eyes with Lucien.

"I’ve already asked my son to begin looking into this, but I want you to take charge of this task as well. Your instincts and discipline make you the right man for it."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for placing your trust in me. I’m honored to be considered capable of handling this task," Lucien replied respectfully. "I’ll begin looking into it right away."

"I didn’t mention it over the phone," Francis said, his voice lowering slightly, "because I also wanted to personally hand over these files to you. They contain the findings of our investigation so far."

He turned to his trusted bodyguard with a brief nod. The man stepped forward and presented two neatly bound files to Lucien.

Lucien accepted them with both hands, immediately opening the top file. His eyes scanned the contents with growing focus.

"The data might not be entirely accurate," Francis cautioned, "but it’s the best we have for now. It should at least point you in the right direction."

Lucien gave a slow nod, a faint crease forming between his brows as he read. "Understood, Your Majesty."

~~~~

After a brief meeting with the Alpha King, Lucien and Caleb were asked to rest for a while.

As Lucien stepped into the guest room, his eyes landed on Alpha Prince Cesar, seated comfortably on a chair near the window. The prince rose to his feet the moment he noticed Lucien’s presence.

"Your Highness," Lucien greeted with a respectful bow of his head.

"Oh, come on. You don’t need to be so formal with me," Cesar replied with a light chuckle, extending his hand.

Lucien’s expression softened as he accepted the handshake. The two shared a quick, friendly embrace before stepping back.

Without another word, Cesar turned to the nearby table and reached for a decanter, pouring a small measure of liquor into two crystal glasses. He handed one to Lucien, a gesture of camaraderie between them.

"I thought you’d show up at the ball with your brothers," Cesar said, taking a slow sip from his glass.

Lucien raised his own drink, letting the scent linger before bringing it to his lips. "I couldn’t make it."

Cesar leaned back slightly, a sly smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "So... how’s it going with your mate? The last she-wolf, if I recall?"

Lucien’s eyes flickered with a strange warmth. "It’s going better."

Cesar squinted playfully, amusement gleaming in his eyes and curling on his lips.

"So, finally a woman made it to your heart," Cesar teased, swirling the drink in his glass.

"Yes," Lucien admitted, finishing his alcohol in a single go before setting the glass down on the table. "Her name is Leia Solayne."

"That’s a beautiful name," Cesar said, smiling warmly. "My mate is pregnant, by the way. I’ll be a father soon, and you’ll be his uncle."

Lucien’s expression softened, a rare hint of joy flickering in his eyes. "Congratulations. I’m sure you’re looking forward to welcoming your first pup."

"I am," Cesar replied, his voice tinged with awe. "It’s... a different kind of feeling. Olivia’s in her fifth month now. If all goes well, the pup should arrive by next month. I just hope everything stays smooth."

Lucien nodded, his gaze steady. "She’ll be alright. She has you, and this entire palace behind her."

Cesar sighed and leaned back slightly. "Father entrusted you with the Enigma case because he wants me focused on Olivia right now. He believes she needs me more."

"He’s right," Lucien agreed. "I’ll take care of this. I’ll find out who they are and where they’re hiding."

"Thanks, Lucien," said Cesar with a smile. "I hope you also form a family soon, with Leia, of course. I know you desire for one too," he added.

"Yes. For now, I have to convince Leia to be my Luna. She’s been resisting for it for a while," Lucien affirmed.

"She will agree soon. Don’t worry," Cesar assured him. "You should rest. I’ll see you near the dinnertime." He patted Lucien’s shoulder and walked out of the room.